Shia Kalama e Tayyab

The kalama (words) to embrace Islam or renew Eman is recited by Muslims and has many versions. Here is a version of Kalama taught by the Imam Al-Raza^-asws -the 8th Imam.

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ الرِّضَا ع‏ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ‏ قَوْلُ

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ وَ خَلِيفَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَقّاً وَ خُلَفَاؤُهُ خُلَفَاءُ اللَّهِ

Ali Al-Reza^-asws said: ‘To Him ascend the good words [35:10], are the words: ‘There is no god except Allah^-azwj, Muhammad^-saww is Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj, Ali^-asws is a Guardian^-asws of Allah^‑azwj and caliph of Muhammad^-saww Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj truly, and his^-saww caliphs are caliphs of Allah^-azwj.

وَ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ‏ عِلْمُهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ بِأَنَّ هَذَا صَحِيحٌ كَمَا قُلْتُهُ بِلِسَانِي‏.

And the righteous deeds raise it [35:10] – he knows in his heart that this is correct – just as I^‑asws am saying it with my^-asws tongue’’.[1]

33- م، تفسير الإمام عليه السلام

Tafseer of the Imam (Hassan Al-Askari^-asws) –

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‏ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَ لَا غَرَضَ لِي إِلَّا ثَوَابُهُ فَأَكُونَ كَالْعَبْدِ الطَّمِعِ الْمُطَمَّعِ إِنْ طُمِّعَ عَمِلَ وَ إِلَّا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ

I^-asws dislike to worship Allah^-azwj and there is no purpose for me^-asws except His^-azwj Rewards, so I^-asws would become like the greedy slave, the enticed. If he is enticed, he works or else he does not work.

وَ أَكْرَهُ أَنْ لَا أَعْبُدَهُ إِلَّا لِخَوْفِ عِقَابِهِ فَأَكُونَ كَالْعَبْدِ السَّوْءِ إِنْ لَمْ يَخَفْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ

And I^-asws dislike not to worship Him^-azwj except for fear of His^-azwj Punishment, so I would be like the evil servant, and if he is not frightened (by his master) he does not work’.

قِيلَ فَلِمَ تَعْبُدُهُ

It is said, ‘Why do you^-asws worship Him^-azwj?’

قَالَ لِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ بِأَيَادِيهِ عَلَيَّ وَ إِنْعَامِهِ.

He^-asws said: ‘Due to Him^-azwj being rightful of it for His^-azwj Favours upon me^-asws and His^-azwj Conferment’s’’.

– وَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرُ ع‏ لَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ عَابِداً لِلَّهِ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِهِ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ عَنِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِ إِلَيْهِ فَحِينَئِذٍ يَقُولُ هَذَا خَالِصٌ لِي فَيَتَقَبَّلُهُ بِكَرَمِهِ.

And Muhammad Bin Ali Al-Baqir^-asws said: ‘The servant cannot become a worshipper of Allah^‑azwj as is right of His^-azwj being worship until he cuts off from the people, all of them, to Him^-azwj. At that time He^-azwj will Say: “This one is sincerely for Me^-azwj!” So He^-azwj Accepts him with His^-azwj Benevolence’’.

– وَ قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع‏ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى عَبْدٍ أَجَلَّ مِنْ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مَعَ اللَّهِ غَيْرُهُ.

And Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic has not Conferred upon a servant with anything more majestic than for there not being in his heart anyone else with Allah^-azwj’’.

– وَ قَالَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْكَاظِمُ ع‏ أَشْرَفُ الْأَعْمَالِ التَّقَرُّبُ بِعِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

And Musa^-asws Bin Ja’far Al-Kazim^-asws: ‘The nobles of the deeds is the drawing closer by worshipping Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic’’.

– وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ الرِّضَا ع‏ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ‏ قَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ وَ خَلِيفَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَقّاً وَ خُلَفَاؤُهُ خُلَفَاءُ اللَّهِ‏

And Ali Al-Reza^-asws said: ‘To Him ascend the good words [35:10], are the words: ‘There is no god except Allah^-azwj, Muhammad^-saww is Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj, Ali^-asws is a Guardian^-asws of Allah^-azwj and caliph of Muhammad^-saww Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj truly, and his^-saww caliphs are caliphs of Allah^-azwj.

And the righteous deeds raise it [35:10] – he knows in his heart that this is correct – just as just as I^-asws am saying it with my^-asws tongue’’.^[2]

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 53 H 2 q

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 53 H 33